The 12 Step Program - Step 10 (Part 1)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I’ll begin step number 10. As a reminder, step number 10 is: I continue to take personal inventory and when I was wrong promptly admitted it. This is a step that I use almost every day as part of my recovery program. I must admit I don’t really think of it anymore. Simply has become part of me and I have no trouble recognizing that little bit of uneasiness when my Spirit is complaining. I don’t know how to describe it other than a feeling that makes me want to examine what I have been doing this day, and mostly, who I have been interacting with. I say who because it is most likely a person I have interacted with that has produced this uneasiness in me. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned to you guys before, I am now legally blind, I wear to hearing aids, I have two complete titanium knee replacements and after about four years, they still hurt somewhat. I have also had multiple back operations. What all this means is number one, I can’t drive. Number two, I can only walk a short distance. Sometimes, even walking the length of our apartment, (which is very small), I have to sit down on a chair. So there’s not much 10th step work for me to do regarding places and things, but I still interact with people and I still see times when I am wrong in doing that! So, if you have done a good 4th step and 5th step, you can’t help but remember the things that were on there that are apt to give you problems if you do not look out for them. For me, as soon as I see a situation that stimulates an old situation in my mind having to do with people, places, or things, my awareness level seems to shoot way up. As I’ve said before, I have been sober for many years and it has been a long time since I even think of alcohol as anything other than something I occasionally add to a dish I am cooking. However, although I don’t bequeath them with alcohol and the longer, I still have some of my, “getting along with people”, issues to contend with. I know that sometimes I try to be funny and I’m the only one that’s laughing. That is usually an amends red flag. Also, at times I will let my sarcasm get out of hand with someone I am speaking with. Another red flag! So, it’s not that I have to be always watching myself 24/7, but it’s more that my Spirit and I are so comfortable with each other that we freely speak about things that are bothering either one of us. Next time I will speak about what I consider to be the second part of this step that says, “and when we are wrong, promptly admitted it”.